‘Battle for Survival’: Responses of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the HIV and AIDS Pandemic in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Of all the epidemics that have emerged in history, HIV and AIDS is one of the most widespread and devastating. Since the beginning of this pandemic in the 1980s, it has swept like veld fire around the world. In recent years it has centred on Africa, especially in the Southern African countries.1 In fact, these countries including Zimbabwe have become a melting pot for the disease. Notably, the epidemic has received diverse responses from various stakeholders such as churches, governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals. This paper seeks to examine the responses of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDAC) in Zimbabwe to the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The SDAC is a worldwide church that believes in Jesus Christ as a World Saviour who will soon return to effect judgement on earth.2 Its mission is to preach the gospel to all people and prepare them for the coming Kingdom of Glory. The name Seventh Day Adventist implies that they observe the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the day of worship and that they look forward to the imminent return of Christ. The Church was formed in the 1960s by former followers of the Millerite Movement who include Mr. and Mrs. J. White, V. Himes and J. Bates.3 The caption, ‘Battle for Survival’, serves to depict the nature and extent of the inevitable struggle of the church against the ruinous disease. Just like in any battle, there are two camps through which the struggle can be comprehended. On the one hand, we have HIV and AIDS that is wrecking havoc on the general populace. On the other hand, there is the SDAC that is striving to protect its members from the scourge. This paper therefore discusses the extent to which the church is managing to tackle the disease in Zimbabwe. The possible suggestions on how the Church can more effectively deal with this problem will be given as the paper unfolds. The last section of the paper will focus on the Missio-Theological Reflections.